CONCORD, N.C.—Like NASCAR, every week counts in the world of college football.
And as we welcome Week 2 on the gridiron, let’s meet another pit crew member who knows weekly competition all too well.
From pigskin to pit road—Dustin Lineback, the front-tire carrier for the No. 88 team, joined Hendrick Motorsports after competing as an outside linebacker for East Carolina University (ECU). Lineback began his college football career in 2007 as an ECU Pirate, competing until his graduation in 2011.
“Playing football there was pretty fun. ECU has a great team atmosphere and the fans were awesome. The stadium sold out every week,” Lineback recalled. “We won two conference championships, went to four bowl games, and put a lot of guys into the NFL.”
The strong bond between Lineback and his teammates made ECU’s pregame rituals unforgettable.
“We always went to the movies Friday night before the game,” he said. “Then we had a team meeting, came back and had these real thick burgers.”
The luck the burgers brought to the team turned into a superstition and fueled each player for standout games.
“One game that stands out to me is when we beat N.C. State. (Current Seattle Seahawks quarterback) Russell Wilson played there then and that was a big game. We beat them at home,” Lineback said. “I played well and had a couple of turnovers.”
It was in 2013 when Lineback took the turn from football to NASCAR. With the help of a family friend, Jason Hunt, and having met Matt Skeen, assistant strength and conditioning coach at Hendrick Motorsports, in Wilmington, North Carolina, Lineback joined Hendrick Motorsports as a member of the pit crew.
“The team atmosphere around here is pretty good. It’s like a football team when we’re working out or on the pit pad. And then when we get to the racetrack, that’s a big team thing, too,” Lineback said of Hendrick Motorsports.
While embracing the NASCAR industry and his position on pit road, Lineback continues to cherish his ECU memories and support of his fellow Pirate teammates.
Even though the team lost starting quarterback Kurt Benkert during camp from a knee injury, Lineback believes the team will remain strong.
“Coach Ruffin McNeill is a good coach and we always have winning programs. We were undefeated and ranked like eighth or 14th in the nation—at ECU, that’s pretty good,” he said.
As for this weekend’s Pirates game against Florida, Lineback has no doubt that ECU can take the game.
“The Florida Gators are a good team, well coached, but so are the Pirates,” he said. “Last year we played them in the bowl game and I think we lost by a touchdown. It was a close game. We’ve played against a lot of big teams and schools, and we usually beat them or play with them, so I think we’ll be good against the Florida Gators.”
You can catch East Carolina’s game against Florida this Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. ET.